Emanuel Beny to become Australian citizen at Wagga City Council's Australia Day ceremony

Emanuel Beny, 40, fled South Sudan due to the conflict that plagued his country and spent eight years in Egypt.

“My wife came to Australia before me and she lodged a form of me,” he said.

“A year later, I was called by the Australian Government for an interview.

“I was accepted and got my visa in 2011.” 

Mr Beny said his marriage wasn’t recognised so soon after arriving in Sydney, he had an Australian wedding with his wife. 

Living in Wagga, Mr Beny said, is really exciting.

"It’s calm as well, not like Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.

“I have visited those places and although there is other Sudanese there, they don’t have a good relationship between them.

“In Wagga, if something happens everyone in the South Sudan community will help you.” 

Mr Beny is working at an abattoir.

“When I first started, I worked hard to pick everything up and asked lots of questions to make sure I was doing everything right,” he said. 

Mr Beny said he loves to see people living together in peace. 

“Before I was accepted here, I was living in camps and life was very tough,” he said. 

“When we come here we need to work hard and study.”

Mr Beny said sometimes people have pointed out his skin colour, but it never offends him. 

“It makes me happy and proud,” he said.

“When someone says ‘you’re black’ it makes me proud that I am different.

“God created us to be different.”

Mr Beny said if everyone was the same colour there would be no beauty in the world.

“It’s like the flowers in the garden, they have different colours,” he said.

“We are like nature.” 

On Australia Day, Mr Beny said he will finally be a citizen and it has been a long time coming.

“It will be exciting for me and my wife who is already a citizen,” he said. 

“I give thanks first to God and also to the Australian Government for accepting me into this country.” 

Mr Beny remembers a long time ago telling his friend he wanted to live in Australia and he is so happy his dreams came true. 

This Saturday from 8.30am at the Wagga Civic Centre Arcade, the Mayor will welcome the newest Australian citizens.

Incoming citizen will be asked to take a pledge of commitment to Australia before being presented with a citizenship certificate.